Jan 14, 2007 11:40 pm US/Eastern
Late Heroics Send Patriots To AFC Championship
SAN DIEGO (AP) ―
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Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots meet after the game against the San Diego Chargers after the AFC Divisional Playoff Game held on January 14, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Patriots
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
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Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a 6 yard touchdown pass during the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the San Diego Chargers held on January 14, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo b
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
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Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots drops back to pass during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the San Diego Chargers held on January 14, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
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Runningback LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the San Diego Chargers runs with the ball during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the New England Patriots held on January 14, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Ima
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
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Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks out onto the field during the AFC divisional playoff game against the San Diego Chargers held on January 14, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Imag
Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
The San Diego Chargers gave Tom Brady one chance too many, and that's all the cagey playoff veteran needed.
Brady and the New England Patriots shocked league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, winning 24-21 to move within one win of their fourth Super Bowl trip in six seasons.
Brady overcame three interceptions, his career playoff high, to lead the Patriots to 11 points in 3:26 late in the game.
The winning points came on a 31-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 1:10 left. That capped a 72-yard drive highlighted by a 49-yard pass to Reche Caldwell, who left the Chargers as a free agent after last season.
With the Patriots trailing 21-13, Brady threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to the wide-open Caldwell with 4:36 to play. The Patriots tied it on a tricky 2-point conversion, snapping the ball directly to running back Kevin Faulk, who was standing next to Brady and ran through the middle of the line.
San Diego's Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding was short on a 54-yard field goal try with 3 seconds left.
It was a crunching end to San Diego's season, and could lead to coach Marty Schottenheimer's ouster.
Behind league MVP Tomlinson, the Chargers went an NFL-best 14-2, including going 8-0 at home in the regular season.
Schottenheimer fell to 5-13 in the postseason, with Cleveland, Kansas City and San Diego. Although he has a year left on his contract, at more than $3 million, he and general manager A.J. Smith have had an icy relationship for months.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Slideshow: Divisional Playoff: Patriots vs. Chargers
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